Lake Nottely
Union County, Georgia3,970 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
Lake Nottely in Union County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Surface area: 3970 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.9 ft
- Area
- 3,970 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Nottely’s letter
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Lake Nottely is a 3,970-acre mesotrophic lake in Union County, Georgia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Union County, Lake Nottely ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2025-07-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Nottely is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water3,970 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.9 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.9 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 3,970 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Nottely, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Poteete CreekPublic
- Nottely DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Nottely
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.079 m/yr | 13 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.33 µg/L/yr | 13 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Nottely is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Nottely Dam (completed 1942), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Nottely River; rockfill-type dam, 197 ft tall and 2,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 3,970 ac
- Normal storage
- 174,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 216,147 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 214 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- TVA
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID GA29101 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Union County
Nearby Lakes in Union County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Nottely
Where is Lake Nottely?
- Lake Nottely is a lake in Union County, Georgia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Nottely?
- Lake Nottely in Union County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L. Surface area: 3970 acres.
Is Lake Nottely safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Nottely?
- Lake Nottely has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Poteete Creek, Nottely Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Nottely across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 18 mi, nearest Trahlyta Falls
19 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Georgia's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Georgia's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
224 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX224 samples · 2012–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory